Electrochemical behaviour of copper in N,N-dimethylformamide + 0.5 M potassium perchlorate solution

Abstract

The electrochemical deposition and dissolution of copper in 0.0025 M CuSO4 + N,N-dimethylformamide + 0.5 M KClO4 solution was examined by the rotating disc and potentiodynamic methods. Both platinum and copper were used as working electrodes. A wide polarization range -1 to +2 V vs. SCE, and several temperatures between 25 and 55°C were encompased. The Cu/electrolyte interface was found to be permanently out of equilibrium, as a consequence of the development of a passivating layer. In accordance with the classic theory of a copper electrode in acidified aqueous solutions, the cathodic and anodic Tafel lines of metallic copper define a unique value of the exchange current density, however, their slopes do not correspond to the classic theory.

Keywords

• copper
• n,n-dimethylformamide
• electrode kinetics
• rotating disc electrode
• passivation